Car Rental at Salt Lake City Airport

Airport travel guide

The capital and by far the largest city of Utah, Salt Lake City serves both as a hub for exploring the rest of the state, especially its north-central portion, and as an excellent urban destination in its own right. These are three of the most interesting attractions in and around it:

• Natural History Museum of Utah. Known for its stunning, often otherworldly landscapes, Utah is, for many visitors, one of the most beautiful and most distinctive places in the United States. To truly appreciate it, you have to go outside of the city, but a good beginning to learn about the nature of Utah is to visit this museum. Open since 1969, but having relocated to the stunning Rio Tinto building in 2011, it showcases the state’s geological, biological, and also human variety, with permanent exhibitions dedicated to everything from the ecosystem of the Great Salt Lake to the area’s indigenous cultures. Visit the museum’s official website to learn more.
• Salt Lake City Union Pacific Depot. Found in the very downtown of SLC, The Union Pacific Depot has stopped serving its original function of a railroad station, but remains a monument of its own era (it was founded in 1909) and the American expansion west. In 2024, the depot building was repurposed as a hotel, but even if you are not staying here, walking past it to check out its distinctive red facade is well worth it.
• Yellowstone National Park. There are many national parks and other nature reserves in the area, with several significantly closer to Salt Lake City but Yellowstone is undoubtedly the household name among them all. Located in the neighboring states of Wyoming and Idaho, with parts of it also stretching into Montana, its west entrance (which is only open from mid-May until late October) is about a five hour drive north.

Top international routes

• Denver
• Phoenix
• Seattle
• Dallas
• Los Angeles
• Las Vegas
• Chicago
• San Diego
• San Francisco
• Atlanta
   

Main airlines

Delta Air Lines, SkyWest Airlines, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Frontier Airlines

Terminals

Concourses B and G are located in Terminal 1, Concourse C is in Terminal 2, and Concourses D and E are in the international terminal. All sections of the airport are interconnected, and you can walk between any two of them. Salt Lake City Airport is going through some major renovations, so check the most recent map (and developments) of these new terminals.

Location

Salt Lake City Airport is about 4 miles (6.4 km) west of downtown Salt Lake City, a short drive down I-80. It takes roughly 45 minutes to reach the ski resorts southwest of Salt Lake City from the airport and about an hour to reach the Snowbasin area.

Most popular types of rental car

• Large cars - from $64 per day
• Medium cars - from $64 per day
• Small cars - from $63 per day
• SUVs - from $53 per day
• Vans - from $95 per day
• Premium cars - from $97 per day

Car rental desks

The on-airport rental desks are located in the Gateway Center next to the parking garage (a short walk across two bridges from baggage claim). Those suppliers that are with off-airport locations (like ACE and Fox) provide shuttles for customers.

Services and facilities

You’ll find convenience stores, gift shops, shops selling goods made locally in Utah, and a duty-free outlet. There are many cafeterias, fast food restaurants, bars, and full-service restaurants. You’ll also find ATMs, a bank, a currency exchange, baby changing facilities, children’s play areas, a first aid service, a spa, drinking fountains, power outlets for charging your mobile devices, and art displays throughout the airport.

Nearest gas station

There is a Chevron station located at the airport along the Terminal Drive loop. This is by far the most convenient place to fill up at before returning your rental. However, as is often the case, its prices are noticeably higher than those of other stations in the area. Luckily there are other options one exit from the airport, no matter which direction you approach it from, like Sinclair, Maverik, and Philips 66 stations.

Popular one-way rentals

• Las Vegas (426 miles / 686 km)
• Provo (51 miles / 82 km)
• Moab (239 miles / 385 km)
• Denver (524 miles / 843 km)
• Reno (515 miles / 828 km)
• Boise (343 miles / 552 km)